To ask for your advice about my laundry basket problem?

[dellacucina]

DD2 has been missing a bottle for a while. I just found it in the bottom of her canvas laundry basket. There is a stench of rotten milk that permeates the clothes in the basket, and an obvious dried milk puddle in the bottom. (The bottle itself is filled with curdled milk solids - it's rank).

Will the smell come out of the clothes?

Is the laundry basket salvageable? The canvas isn't washable, just hand wipe.

I'd still wash the basket, as wiping won't get the smell out. If cover can't be removed stand it in bath or shower and soak/ scrub with detergent and a brush. Use a towel to absorb most of the water afterwards. Wash the clothes. They may need a soak or a couple of washes. It's all worth a try if you want to attempt to salvage them.

Will consider that - seems sensible. I was wondering if it would make sense to try sprinkling it with baking soda?

Yes breadsoda would be my go to for milk smells. Add some to the clothes wash and leave as a paste on the laundry basket. You could add vinegar too for and extra kick.

Does your washing machine have a gym clothes setting? My DH's clothes needed 3 goes on this setting after a biking holiday, but the smell eventually came out... Hopefully it will work for milk too! I think white vinegar is also meant to help with smelly clothes.

If you don't remove the source of the smell - the milk absorbed in the fabric - I doubt the bicarb could work alone. I'd try bicarb after washing it, if the smell persists. If it's only a small area, you could try sponging it to rinse out the milk, followed by the bicarb.

Thanks, everyone!